Serving on the Homefront

Photo By Aren Everett | CHICAGO (Mar. 7, 2019) - Navy Recruiter Aviation Ordnanceman Petty Officer Second Class Amber Holmes attached to Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) Six Corners greets a potential Future Sailor at her NRS. Holmes was named Recruiter of the Month and Heavy Hitter of the month for three months running, as well as Recruiter of the Quarter by Navy Recruiting District Chicago.  

CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES

03.15.2019

Courtesy Story

Commander, Navy Recruiting Command

By Aren Everett Navy Recruiting District Chicago Public Affairs

CHICAGO (March 12, 2019) — It’s been said that being a Sailor in the World’s Greatest Navy is like being part of a family. Fiscal year 2019 has the Navy family at 332,904 active duty Sailors, and that number is changing every single day. With a family that size, it can be hard to stand out, but Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class Amber Nicole Holmes, a Navy recruiter attached to Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) Six Corners, is no stranger to large families or standing out.

“I am one of eight siblings,” said Holmes. “I’m the first oldest girl, but the fourth oldest child.”

Holmes said she was born and raised in Chicago but for a brief time she lived in Las Vegas. It was her time there that first fueled her desire to experience other cultures.

“At about 14, my family moved to Las Vegas,” said Holmes. “At that point my eyes were opened to a different lifestyle. It made me want to be able to explore and see different cultures.”

Two years later, Holmes returned to Chicago, and upon graduating high school she found herself unsure of what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.

Holmes said a Navy commercial sparked her interest in becoming a Sailor.

“I told myself that it was time for me to make a permanent change,” said Holmes. “After I saw that commercial, I walked into the [recruiting] office and started my process to enlist in the Navy.”

After seven years, the opportunity presented itself for Holmes to return to her hometown of Chicago as a recruiter. She was quick to volunteer.

“I’m an introvert,” Holmes said, “but I wanted to step out of my comfort zone as well as make a good decision for my career.”

After only 8 months of recruiting duty, Holmes was named Recruiter of the Month for November and December 2018, and January 2019. She also received recognition as Recruiter of the Quarter and Heavy Hitter of the Month for October 2018, November 2018, December 2018, and January 2019.

Holmes said it was a challenge to come out of her shell and interact with people, but being able to help them better their futures and provide them the opportunity for a successful life made it worthwhile.

“It helps me to give good energy to my Junior Sailors, even if I am having a bad day myself,” said Holmes. “Knowing that I have people looking up to me will always help me to put on that game face and take on any challenges the day presents.”

Holmes describes herself as ambitious, motivated and a self-starter. She said that the biggest reason she volunteered to return to Chicago was to show others that they could also achieve success in the Navy.

“It is okay to try something and not be successful at first,” said Holmes. “It is okay to fall flat on your face. At the end of the day, if you get back up and put some effort into it you will eventually accomplish everything you have in mind. Never restrict or limit yourself in life; take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.”

Navy Recruiting District Chicago has 9 divisions across Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, which include 31 enlisted Navy Recruiting Stations, five Navy Reserve Recruiting Stations, two Navy Recruiting Processing Stations and three Navy Officer Recruiting Stations., and their mission is to recruit men and women who meet mental, moral, physical and other specific standards for enlistment and obtaining the best qualified applicants from civilian sources for enlisted and officer candidates.

Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, three Navy Recruiting Regions, 20 Navy Recruiting Districts and six NTAGS that serve more than 1,300 recruiting stations across the world. Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.

For more news from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, go to http://www.cnrc.navy.mil. Follow Navy Recruiting on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Navy Recruiting), Twitter (@USNRecruiter) and Instagram (@USNRecruiter).

• Date Taken: 03.15.2019
• Date Posted: 03.15.2019 15:45
• Story ID: 314461
• Location: CHICAGO, IL, US
• Hometown: CHICAGO, IL, US